Press Association
Course Overview

Learn how to manage the fall-out of a crisis in today’s social media-driven world – before it happens. Handled well, damage can be limited; handled badly and it can have a huge effect on image and profits. This course examines worst-case scenarios and what to do when things go wrong.

Who the course is for

Management, PR agencies or in-house press officers who need a 'what-if?' mechanism in place if something goes wrong.

Learning Objectives

  • Why prevention is better than cure - scenario planning and foreseeing a problem
  • Creating a tailor-made crisis management strategy
  • How to manage and control the impact of social media
  • What to do when things go wrong
  • Setting up spokespeople and a chain of command
  • Getting authority for statements
  • Positive press from bad news
  • When to call in the specialists

Course Outline


Why prevention is better than cure - scenario planning and foreseeing a problem
  • What type of incident is the firm more likely to face
  • Preparing for a potential crisis
  • Setting up a risk assessment process

Creating a tailor-made crisis management strategy
  • Putting a strategy in place
  • Developing specific procedures

How to manage and control the impact of social media
  • Appreciating how quickly problems can escalate as a result of social media
  • How to take control of the situation

What to do when things go wrong
  • Demonstrating decisive corrective action
  • Separating fact from fiction

Setting up spokespeople and a chain of command
  • Who should be in your crisis team
  • Making sure the team has access to relevant resources

Getting authority for statements
  • Agreeing communication protocols
  • Making sure you have a speedy and accurate communication plan

Positive press from bad news
  • Creating a clear recovery strategy

When to call in the specialists
  • Bringing in specialists to test your plan
  • Knowing when you need expert help

Our partners, Press Association Training will be delivering this course on behalf on Journalism.co.uk.


Getting there

This course will be held at Press Association 292 Vauxhall Bridge Road London SW1V 1AE



About Press Association

The Press Association (PA) is the national news agency for the UK and Ireland and a leading multimedia content provider across web, mobile, broadcast and print. For the last 147 years PA has been providing fast, accurate feeds of text, data, photos and video. Today the business is increasingly focused on the delivery of complete products for both digital and print clients. 

The Press Association Training courses are specifically tailored to ensure they include the very latest developments in the rapidly changing world of the media.

All of PA's trainers are working journalists or PR professionals with the most up-to-date knowledge who always shape courses to the individual needs of those attending.